DSW Candidate – Samantha Calvillo, 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM
$0.00
Virtual Showcase of DSW Scholars 2025 Event!
Witnessing Culture in Clinical Practice: Treating Latina Survivors of Sexual Assault
DSW Candidate – Samantha Calvillo, LCSW
Monday, April 28, 2025
10:30 AM- 11:45 AM Eastern Time Zone
Credit Hours: 1.0
Description
Witnessing Culture in Clinical Practice: Treating Latina Survivors of Sexual Assault
This presentation explores the unique influences of Latino cultural values on the trauma symptoms of Latinas following a sexual assault, synthesizing key findings from my systematic literature review (SLR), conceptual paper, and practice application paper as part of this capstone project.
The SLR examines existing research on the mental health disparities experienced by Latina sexual assault survivors, emphasizing their higher rates of PTSD and depression, lower engagement in therapy, and cultural barriers to care. It identifies familismo, gender roles, and religious beliefs as key cultural influences that shape symptomatology.
Building upon the SLR, the conceptual paper applies feminist and ecological systems theories to develop a strength-based, culturally competent assessment framework. Feminist theory highlights gender oppression, systemic inequalities, and the role of gender in shaping trauma responses, while ecological systems theory examines how societal, familial, and environmental contexts influence survivors’ experiences. This assessment tool is designed to measure the level and type of cultural influences, both positive and negative, on a survivor’s mental health, empowering clinicians to tailor treatment accordingly.
The practice application paper explores the real-world implementation of this tool, addressing barriers, ethical considerations, and strategies for integrating culturally responsive assessments into clinical practice.
This presentation concludes with actionable recommendations for improving therapeutic outcomes, enhancing treatment retention, and advancing culturally competent trauma care through assessment-driven interventions.
Upon completion of this conference, participants will be able to:
- Critically evaluate current research on trauma responses among Latina survivors to identify key findings, gaps, and limitations.
- Examine the cultural influences that shape Latinas’ experiences following a sexual assault, including family dynamics, stigma, and access to support services.
- Develop strategies to bridge the research and practice gap by identifying evidence-based interventions, culturally responsive approaches, and policy recommendations.
Delivery Method: Live Interactive Training via Zoom Video Conferencing
Credit Hours: 1.0 (ACE)
Target Audience: This conference is intended for social workers and students.
Accreditation: University of Kentucky College of Social Work, Provider # 1377, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/29/22-9/29/25. Social workers participating in this conference will receive up to 15 general continuing education credits.
Claiming CE Credit: Instructions for claiming CE credit will be disseminated at the beginning of each session.
Questions: If you have any questions regarding CE credit or to report a grievance, please contact Christina Krantz at Christina.Krantz@uky.edu. For technical assistance, please contact lmshelp@uky.edu.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the University of Kentucky or the College of Social Work. The inclusion of any topics, perspectives, or discussions is intended for academic engagement and does not constitute endorsement by the institution.
